The Motor Car Affair - Appleby & Hedges, #2

Edward Appleby is a gentleman of leisure with a talent for "extensively resting" and a dangerous new ambition: he wants to drive. When he purchases a 1922 Hispano-Suiza H6B from the cash-strapped Bimbo Farquhar, he believes he's acquiring a ticket to a faster, more sophisticated life. What he actually acquires is a mechanical nightmare with a "weeping" oil seal and a gearbox that only cooperates on alternate Thursdays.

Fortunately, Edward has Hedges.

Hedges is more than a valet; he is a master of "organised attention" who operates a secret network of mechanics, solicitors, and informants to ensure Edward's life remains a series of successful decisions rather than a string of catastrophic events. As Edward navigates the treacherous waters of the London social scene—and the even more treacherous interest of the direct and purposeful Susannah Rivers—he begins to realize that the car isn't the only thing requiring expert management.

From the quiet village greens of Wiltshire to the congested junctions of Piccadilly, The Motor Car Affair is a witty, light hearted comedy of manners about the distance between a man and his motor car. It is a story of learning to steer one's own life, the peculiar brilliance of the British servant, and the enduring truth that everything can be fixed — provided you have the right map and a very good man to hold it.